Photographic electric exposure timing machine



April 5, 1938. A. F, MANUEL 2,113,275

PHOTOGRAPHIC ELECTRIC EXPOSURE TIMING MACHINE Filed Jan. 9, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 ARWUR E mu;

April 5, 1 A. F. MANUEL 2,113,275

PHOTOGRAPHIC ELECTRIC EXPOSURE TIMING MACHINE Filed Jan. 9, '1955 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 'WWIIWWWWWWWMW 4' kmuwmuuu,

my a) Patented Apr. 5, 1938 UNlTED STATES PHOTOGRAPHIC ELECTRIC EXPOSURE TIMING MACHINE Arthur F. Manuel, New York, N. Y.

Application January 3 Claims.

- The present invention relates to photographic machines, and more particularly to a means for automatically controlling the light used in the exposure of the sensitized paper or element.

An-object of this invention is to provide an automatic timing device which can be combined with enlarging devices at present in use and which can be disposed remotely from the enlarging devices so as to control the exposure of the sensitized member in order that once a particular time of exposure has been determined for a particular negative the time of exposure can be duplicated as often as may be desired.

Another object of this invention is to provide an automatic device of this type which is so constructed that initially the light used for exposing the film can be lighted'in order to focus the image on the object such as sensitized paper and then the timing means can be operated in a manner whereby the means first used for focusing is automatically released so as to permit the operation of the automatic timing means.

With the foregoing and other objects in view,

the invention will be more fully described hereinafter, and will be more particularly pointed out in the claims appended hereto.

In the drawings, wherein like symbols refer to like or corresponding parts throughout the several views,

Figure. 1 is a detail side elevation of a device constructed according to the embodiment of this invention connected to a typical enlarging device.

' Figure 2 is a perspective view of the automatic timing means.

Figure 3 is a detail side elevation of the timing device showing the manner of locking the timing lever so as to permit focusing of the enlarging camera.

Figure 4 is a side elevation of the device opposite trom the side shown in Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a detail side elevation of the device with one cover removed from the housing and showing the timing lever in set position.

Figure 6 is a similar view showing the timing lever in circuit breaking position.

Figure 7 is a fragmentary view in elevation showing the manner in which the timing lever is locked.

-Figure 8 is a sectional view taken on the line 8-8 of Figure 6.

Figure 9 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on the line 99 of Figure 5.

Figure 10 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on the line ill-ill-of Figure 6.

9, 1935, Serial No. 989

Figure 11 is a fragmentary sectional view similar to Figure 10 but showing the timing lever in a position away from the switch, and

Figure 12 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on the line i2i2 of Figure 6.

Referring to the drawings wherein like reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, the letter C designates generally an enlargmg camera and the letter L a lighting member disposed rearwardly of the enlarging camera for projecting light on a negative N which is disposed within the enlarging camera. The image projected from the lens oi'the camera C is projected. on a sensitized member P such as sensitized paper or the like mounted on a board or support S which is adjustable relative to the lens of the camera C.

The structure hereinbefore described is conventional structure and is here shown as only one type of enlarging means or duplicating means with which the hereinafter described invention may be used.

In order to provide a means whereby the light L may be automatically controlled so that once the time of exposure has been determined any number of duplicate exposures may be made in an accurate manner, I have provided an automatic timing device which is mounted in a housing generally designated as I0. This housing l0 has a rear wall ii, a bottom wall ii, a removable side wall i2 and a front wall I. A curved wall I5 extends from the top of the rear wall ii to the front edge of the bottom wall ii and is preferably provided with a window ii having a transparent member i'l disposed therein pro vided with graduations i8.

A main switch I! is mounted on the curved wall ii in a convenient position and is connected as by conductors 20 to a source of current supply through a plug 2i secured to one end of the conductor 20. This switch I! is connected as by a conductor 22 to one terminal 23 of a cut-oil switch and a second conductor 24 is connected at one end to another contact member or tenninal 25 forming the cut-off switch. The conductor 24 is connected at the opposite end to a terminal 26 of an outlet connection secured in i the wall I! of the housing. A conductor 21 is connected at one end to a terminal 20 of the outlet connection and the opposite end of the condu;tor 21 is connected to the other side of the switch i9- Acondenser 29 is connected across the contacts 23 and 25 so as to cut down or eliminate the spark across the contacts 23 and Has they are opened and closed and these contacts 23 and 25 are spring-pressed contacts normally contacting one with another and the forward ends of the contacts 23 and 25 are preferably flared, the purpose for which will be hereinafter described.

A lamp socket 30 is secured to a gear train frame structure 3| disposed in the housing It! and a lamp 32 is mounted in the socket 30. The socket 30 is connected to both sides of the main switch l9 by conductors 33 and 347so that when this switch i9 is closed the lamp 32 will be lighted and the rays from this lamp or bulb 32 will light up the graduated plate [11. Preferably the bulb 32 is opaque as at 35 so that the rays of light from the bulb 32 will only be projected forwardly against the plate ll which may be a frosted plate or a plate of like construction.

The outlet connection 36 is of the socket type and a plug 31 connected to a conductor 38 is adapted to engage the outlet connection 36. The conductor 38 is connected at the opposite end of the light L. A gear train generally designated as 39 is mounted in the frame structure M which is secured to the side wall 64 and includes a driving gear 48 and an escapement structure 4!. A timing lever 42. is secured to a shaft @3, the shaft 43 being the same shaft to which the driving gear member 40 is connected. A spring 46 is disposed about the shaft 43 and has one end 45 thereof anchored against one portion of the frame structure and the opposite end 46 engages the pivot 41 of a pawl 48. The pawl 48 is adapted to ride over the teeth of the gear 40 in one movement of the lever 42 and when the lever 42 is moved to its lowermost position the pawl 48 is swung downwardly into engagement with the teeth of the gear 40 by means of an arm 49 which also constitutes a pawl releasing arm. A spring 50 constantly urges the pawl 48 into gear engaging position.

The lever 42 adjacent its upper or free end is provided with a contact breaking member 5| which is fixed to the lever 42 and is constructed in the form of a knife ofinsulating construction disposed in a position confronting the flared end portions of the contact members 23 and 25. A knob 52 is secured to the lever 42 and projects through an arcuate slot 53 provided in the wall l4.

The movement downwardly of the lever 42 is limited by an adjustable stop member 54 carrying a thumb nut 55 on the outside of the wall 14 and this stop member 54 is also movable throughout the length of the slot 53. The stop member 54 carries a pointer 56 which is disposed on the inside of the wall lT-so that the stop member 54 can be adjusted to th'e'de's'ired indicia on this wall l1.

In order to provide a means for; maintaining the light L lighted when the camera C'is-being set so that the image may be properly focused on the sensitized member P, I have provided a locking lever 51 which is pivoted on a pivot 5.8 and is disposed on the inside of the housing. III in the path of the movement of the lever'42. This lever locking member 51 has an operating lever 59 secured to the pivot 58 thereof.

In the use and operation of this device when the negative N has been placed in the camera C, the light L is initially lighted for focusing purposes by swinging the lever 59 upwardly in a substantially horizontal position, as shown in Figure 3. In this position the locking member 51 engages the timing-lever 42 and swings this lever 42 into disengaging position so that the contacts 23 and 25 may close the lighting circuit of which the conductor 38 is a part. After the camera has been properly focused the sensitized member P is secured to the support S and i swinging movement of the timing lever 42 being timed by the escapement 4l. This escapement 4i is preferably so adjusted as to be similar to the timing of a watch or the like. When the timing lever 42 approaches the contacts 23 and 25 the pawl lever 49 will contact with the post 50 and ride over this post 69. The sliding movement of the end of the lever 49 on the post 60 will raise the pawl 48 from the selected tooth of the gear 46 so that in the last movement of the timing lever 42 the spring 44 will snap the lever M to circuit breaking position so that the insulating member 5| will be disposed between the two contacts 23 and 25.

It will be obvious that the foregoing operation will be repeated any desired number of times and that the automatic control means hereinbefore described may be disposed remote from the camera C or the light L being preferably disposed in a position adjacent the support S so that the operator of the device may control the automatic timing means as fast as it is possible to insert the sensitized member P on the support. After the locking member 51 has been swung to a position for maintaining the timing lever 42 away from the contacts 23 and 25, the'locking member 51 is automatically swung to 9. released position by movement of the timing lever 42 in the direction of the stop 54. The normal position of the operating lever 59 for the locking member 51 is a substantially vertical position and this lever 59 gravitatingly swings downwardly into released position.

Among the further advantages is the fact that the light used acts as a safe light which cannot fog any photographic material. The light from a neon light, for instance, is safe for photographic purposes, and as the life of a neon bulb is considerable, there is no need of changing the bulb, and so the bulb is good substantially for the life of the machine.

Also there is no need for any light from outside sources in order to adjust this machine while it is in use.

. The machine being portable, makes it readily adaptable to the printing and enlarging machines.

It is obvious that various changes and modifications maybe made in the details of construcgear train upon swinging movement of the lever in one direction, a releasing member carried by said pawl, a stationary member engageable by the releasing member for releasing the pawl from the gear train at a predetermined pointin the return of the lever, yieldable means constantly urging said lever to contact opening position, manually adjustable means for limiting the movement of the lever away from the contacts, and automatically releasable means carried by the housing and disposed in the path of the return movement of the lever for holding the lever in a posi tion away from said contacts.

2. An automatic switch control means comprising a housing, a pair of spring pressed contacts disposed in the housing, a lever, means for pivotally mounting the lever in the housing, a gear train in the housing, a spring constantly urging the lever to contact opening position, a blade carried by said lever and adapted to engage between the contacts for holding the contacts in 7 open position, a pawl carried by the lever and engageable with one of the members of the gear train to operate said gear train upon swinging movement of the pawl to contact opening position, a releasing arm carried by said pawl, a stationary member carried by the housing and engageable by said arm for releasing'the lever from the gear train at a predetermined point in the return of the lever, adjustable stop means carried by the housing for limiting the swinging I movement of the lever away from the contacts,

vertical released position upon further movement of the first lever away from the contacts.

3. A photographic control means comprising a housing, a switch in said housing biased to closed position, a rock lever carried by the housing and engageable with said switch to maintain said switch in open position, timed operating means for said lever, a rock arm carried by the housing and movable into the path of movement of said lever whereby to hold said lever out of engagement with said switch, and an operating lever secured to said rock arm and adapted when in a vertical position to madhtain said rock arm in inoperative position, movement of said operating lever into a horizontal podtion coactively moving said rock arm to an operative position in the path of movement of said rock lever.

' ARTHUR F. MANUEL. 

